Frame for table games



Feb. 6, 1951 J. P. HASKELL FRAME FOR TABLE GAMES Filed July 5, 1946 INVENTOR. a /(Mm flaw/z Patented Feb. 6, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,540,729 FRAME FOR TABLE GAMES John P. Haskell, Detroit, Mich. Application July 5, 1946, Serial No. 681,494

This invention relates to improvements in game apparatus.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a game apparatus which enables the use of a card table or folding table in extensively used types as a game board or playing surface.

Second, to provide a game apparatus of this character with a resilient fence or cushioning wall for balls propelled across the board.

Third, to provide a game apparatus of this character which permits the use of the table for various purposes and the ready application or removal of the fence or cushioning wall and at the same time one in which the fence is supported.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed out in the, claims.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a game apparatus embodying. the features of the invention, the table top being shown with covering cloth.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view illustrating the engagement of the fence with the table or playing board.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view partially in vertical section, a ball being illustrated by dotted lines to show the yielding of the fence under the impact of the ball.

Fig. l is a plan view of the fence with an an- 5 Claims. (CL 273-5) nular band of elastic material illustrated by 4 dotted lines to show the stock from which the fence is formed.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the pocket feature of the invention.

. In the accompanying drawing, the table illustrated is of the rectangular type comprising a top panel designated generally by the numeral l provided with a rim 2, the legs 3 being hingedly secured to the under side of the table, the hinge members being indicated at 4. I preferably use a cloth covering 5 for the top.

The'ball retaining fence designated generally by the numeral 6 comprises four reaches 1 and loops 8 adapted to engage over the corners of the top, the loops being'so arranged relative to the reaches 1 that when the loops are engaged the reaches are under stretching or stretched tension.

The fence and loops are, in this preferred embodiment, formed of an annular strip 9 of elaswidth, the edges of the strip being rolled over to provide edge reinforcing beads H), the rolled over edges being secured in their rolled over condition as by means of a suitable rubber adhesive. At spaced intervals the band of material 9 is brought together as at l I and fixedly secured together to provide spaced loops 12. These loops I2 are adapted to be engaged over the edges of the table, over the corners where a rectangular tabletop is used as shown in the drawings, the outer end portion l3 of the loop being engaged on the under side of the table. This serves to hold the covering in place as well as to hold the fence with its reaches 1 in stretched upright condition. Playing balls M are illustrated. The fence should be of proper height relative to the diameter of the playing ballsthat is, it should be of sufficient height so that the ballsv strike the inner side of the fence well below the upper edge thereof. The reinforcing ribs or beads on the edges of the fence prevent the balls from lifting the fence as the intermediate portion of the fence yields under the impact of the balls more readily than the reinforced edges.

In the embodiment illustrated, the loops are folded upon themselves and adhered together to provide finger pieces I5 which facilitate the engagement and disengagement of the fence with the table top.

In Fig. 5, I illustrate a pocket forming member designated generally by the numeral I6 and comprising apair of slotted blocks I! which arepreferably made of hard rubber and arranged to be slipped over the fence as shown. The blocks are provided with integrally formed triangular ears l8 connected to the blocks along their low er inner edges. The ears serve to support a ramp U! of thin rubber which has its ends folded over the tops of the ears and cemented or vulcanized to the outer surface thereof. A band 20 of thin rubber has its ends cemented or vulcanized in the adjacent ends of the slots in the blocks I1 and forms a back-stop for balls played into the pockets. Balls played into the pocket stretch the back edge of the thin ramp to pass over it into contact with the back stop. After the ball has passed the ramp it will spring back into normal position to trap the ball as it is thrown back by the back-stop.

A wide variety of games may be played, this depending on the character of the games including the element of pocketing the balls may be played. The balls may be impelled by cues or 3 otherwise as desired and the element of skill is an important factor inasmuch as the balls projected against the fence are thrown backby the resilience of the fence, rebound action differing very materially from that which is present in pool tables or billiard tables, for example, utilizthose skilledin the art to embody or adapt my invention as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A boundary member for attachment to a rectangular table top constituting a playingbcard comprising a fence of elastic band material of substantial width having top and bottom reinforcing beads and having loops of elastic material connected thereto in spaced relation, said loops also being of substantial width approximating the width of the fence and attached to the fence completely across the coincident portions of their width. the loops being engageable over the corners of the table top whereby tension in said loops applies tension to the top and bottom of said fence to support the reaches of the fence between the loops inupright position and under substantial stretching tension.

2. A boundary member for attachment to a rectangular table top constituting a playingboard comprising. a fence of elastic band. material of substantial width having loops of. elastic material connected thereto in spaced relation, said loops also being of substantial width. approximating the widthv of'thefence and attached to the fence near the top and. bottom of. said fence, the loops being.v engageable over the corners of the table top whereby tensionin said loops applies tension to the top and bottom of said fence to support the reaches of the fence between the. loops in upright position and. under substantial stretching tension.

3. A game apparatus comprising a fence adapted for application to a playing board and formed of a-loopedendless band of elastic material of substantial width and. having thetop and bottom edges thereof folded longitudinally upon a the adjacent portions of the body of the'band and secured to provide topand bottom beads, said band having portions-of its length gathered into corner loops at spaced intervals with the gathered portions at the base of the corner loops secured together transversely of the band, the corner loops being. adapted to be engaged over the'corners of theboardwith tension in the loops applied to the top and bottom edges of the fence 6o to hold the fence in upright somewhat stretched condition, the sides of the corner loops having portions thereof folded double transversely of the band and attached together to provide finger pieces facilitating the engagement and disengagement of the loops with the board.

4. A game apparatus comprising a fence adapted for application to a playing board and formed of a band of elastic material of substantial width and having the top and bottom edges thereof folded longitudinallyupon the adjacent portions of the body of the band and secured to provide top and bottom beads, said band hav--' ing portions of its length gathered into corner loops at spaced. intervals with the gathered portions at the base of the corner loops secured together transversely of the band, the corner loopsbeing adapted to be engaged over the cornersof the boardwith tension in the loops applied to the top and bottom edges of the fence to hold the fence in upright somewhat stretched condition.

5. A game. apparatus comprising a fence adapted for application. to av playing boardand formed of a band of. elastic material of substam tial width, said band havingportionsof its length gathered into loops at spaced intervals with the gathered portions atv the base of the loops secured together transversely of theband, the loopsbeing adapted to be engaged over the corners of the board with tension inthe loops applied. to thestop and bottom edges of the fence to hold the fence in upright somewhat stretched condition, the

loops having portions thereof folded doubled.

transversely of the band andattached together to provide finger pieces facilitating the engagement and disengagement of the loops-with theboard.

JOHN P. HASKELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are o'firecord i-n'the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS France Mar. 28, 1933 

